Hobbies And Interests
History
Originating centuries ago, embroidery became the first embellishment of fabric using a needle and thread. During medieval Byzantium, the use of embroidery and its various techniques was applied to stitch decorative borders and designs on church vestments. As time went on, stitching designs on textiles of any type became more and more popular. Among the stitches performed for decorative embroidery was the French knot. The various embroidery styles used became known as needle painting, with a picture painted by an artist and then hand-stitched using embroidery techniques.
Function
These tiny knots fill spaces where traditional stitches don't fit, but they are dimensional and raised when made correctly. French knots are a stitching technique used in counted cross stitch to accent and embellish embroidery. They are also used in the art of candle-wicking, a white-work embroidery done with unbleached cotton thread on muslin. Bedspreads, clothing and home decor embellished with French knots are always popular.
Geography
The French knot is very popular in many countries as hand-done needlework, but it is also done by machine. The Pennsylvania Dutch have many motifs where French knots are the primary source of decoration. Brazilian embroidery also includes the use of French knots for intricate-sewn surface designs. While the origins aren't truly clear for the French knot, the knot became popular throughout Greece, Persia, Italy and many other Southern European cultures before traveling throughout Germany, into Britain and on to the United States.
Identification
French knots can be identified by their neat rosebud appearance. This technique may be found as the center of flowers in an embroidery design, or as a filler that will appear as tiny florets surrounded by leaves or tucked into them. It is performed by threading a needle with a single thread, inserting the needle through the fabric and holding the thread between your thumb. By wrapping the thread around the needle twice, the twists of thread are held with your finger tip and the needle is then reinserted close to where it first came through the fabric. By gently pulling the needle and thread through the fabric while holding the twists in place, a small bud, or knot, is formed. The raised knot will then take on a dimensional appearance that is easily identifiable. If some of the knots you may see are larger than others, it simply means the thread was wrapped around the needle more than twice.
Benefits
French knots give clothing and home decor items a lovely, interesting and unique twist. They can be added to already existing designs, and when done correctly they will stay in place without unraveling. Items that have been embroidered and are preserved often become precious heirlooms.